Educators around Connecticut work to reassure students and parents in wake of Newtown shooting

Jim Shelton, Register Staff

Published
12:00 am EST, Friday, December 14, 2012

As authorities Friday pieced together horrific events at Newtown elementary school that left 27 people dead, including 20 children, educators across the state worked to reassure students and parents.

"We have offered support to any staff or student who feels they need counseling support," Amity Regional Schools Superintendent of Schools John Brady said, in an email to the community that also noted the district has a number of staff with connections to Newtown.

"We are all horrified by the incomprehensible events unfolding at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown," Brady said in the email. Amity schools operated normally but with a "heightened police presence."

Schools in cities and towns near Newtown were for a time in various states of lockdown Friday morning as educators tried to determine what level of threat existed to students throughout the area.

"We're an adjacent town and we are in a lockdown," said Monroe Superintendent of Schools James Agostine, noting the town is adjacent to Newtown, said the lockdown was done "in consultation with our police department" and until he an all-clear would "keep it that way."

But the impact of the shootings radiated beyond the Newtown area, into school districts closer to New Haven.

"So many parents are really going to be blindsided by this," said Megan Ifill of New Haven, who has two children in schools in New Haven and Cheshire.

Ifill said she called the principal's office at her son's school, New Haven Academy, and got no information about what students there had been told about the shooting, and no guidance about how to talk with students about school safety.

"I am shocked," Ifill said. "My concern is, the kids are going to be seeing this stuff on TV all weekend. Usually, the school sends out something stating whether counseling is available to talk about this."

New Haven schools communications director Abbe Smith said schools scheduled a regular dismissal Friday and officials would send a message to parents assuring them "our children are safe" and that there would be increased security.

"Police Chief Dean Esserman has stationed a police officer at every school and additional officers in the area of schools," New Haven Superintendent of School Reginald Mayo said in a statement. "The school district asked principals and school security to be on heightened alert."

In Derby, Superintendent of Schools George Tanner said, "The thing that was difficult for us was that we were having difficulty getting information about what was going on in Newtown."

Derby schools held a normal school dismissal schedule and did not take lockdown precautions. The district did get calls from parents, Tanner noted. "They were getting a little bit antsy, as they should," he said.

In Cheshire, Carol Jesensky, secretary to the superintendent of schools, said the schools received some calls from parents and while there was no lockdown, there were increased police patrols.

In a note to parents, Cheshire's Dodd Middle School Interim Principal Donald F. Wailonis said most middle and elementary students were not aware of the news, which he was sharing so parents could "support and counsel your child as you see fit."

"That was a travesty," said Ansonia Superintendent of Schools Carol Merlone. "All (our) the students were kept in from recess and the buildings remained in lock up ( with our doors locked and the use of the cameras an buzzard/daily security). Chief (Kevin) Hale and I were in constant communication and he staffed a police officer at each building and during the time of dismissal there were two. All afterschool activities were canceled."

Seymour Public Schools' Director of Security Rich Kearns said on learning of the Newtown tragedy, he immediately contacted Seymour police and within minutes, two officers were stationed outside of each of the district's four schools, as a precaution.

"We wanted to let the kids know that we were doing our best to keep them safe, and to let them feel a little more at ease," Kearns said. "We brought the officers in strictly as a precaution to ease people's concerns. A lot of parents thanked us for being here."

Kearns said an announcement was made over the loud speakers in each school, to assure students and staff that "they were safe."

The Region 16 district in Beacon Falls and Prospect arranged for a police presence at each of the five schools there. "The children were not allowed to have recess or have any activities outside," said Lorrie Moraniec, secretary to the superintendent of schools.

Likewise, school districts in Guilford and Milford kept students inside Friday.

American Federation of Teachers Connecticut President Melodie Peters said in a statement, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire community in the wake of this terrible tragedy. We will be working closely to help the students, teachers, administrators and their families in Newtown as they recover from this tragedy. We credit the teachers, staff and administrators for reacting immediately to protect the children."